Youth in Government Programme Details

Programme

Youth workers use icebreakers and basic team-building games to help the young people begin to interact with each other. They outline the first part of the programmes activities and explain to the young people what is expected of them during the community placements.


Group work – Culture
These sessions give the young people a chance to explore their own culture and identity whilst also learning more about other cultures in Northern Ireland.

1st Residential
This is used as an opportunity for team building, as well as getting the young people to start thinking about issues that directly affect them. The group looks at how they would like to see these issues addressed, and how young people in Northern Ireland can make a difference.

Party Political Night
This is an opportunity for programme participants to question and challenge the views of local politicians and their parties. This session is also open to other groups of interested young people.

Community Placements
During these three weeks, the young people research an issue of their choice that is currently affecting their community. After spending some time with a pertinent community group or agency, they prepare a report for the Community Forum. Previous placements have included Dunlewy Drug Advice Centre, IMPACT - joy-riding project, work-shadowing a local MLA, and spending time at the IFA to look at sectarianism in soccer.

Community Forum
The young people review their placement and discuss their reports with the rest of the group. This gives everyone an insight into how important issues can be tackled at a community level.

Introduction to Module 2
Youth workers and young people evaluate Module 1. Activities and expectations for the second part of the programme are discussed.

Group work - Citizenship
The young people ask just what it means to be a ‘citizen’ of Northern Ireland, and a ‘citizen’ of the world. They discuss rights and responsibilities, what makes an ‘ideal citizen’ and an ‘ideal community’?

2nd Residential
The young people begin to prepare for the Model Council. After learning about the processes used by Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Assembly, they devise their own rules and regulations for the working of the council, and start to research issues for their reports.

Study Visits
As for the Community placements, the young people use this time to research an issue of their choice. It may be something of concern to their local community, but must also be an issue that affects young people across Northern Ireland. With the data they collect, they must compile a report to be delivered to the Model Council. Previous participants have gone on study visits to NICEM, the PSNI, and the Children’s Law Centre.

Model Assembly
The programme culminates in a Model Assembly held in the Senate room at Stormont. The young people take over this room for two days and conduct business just like the regular assembly. This gives the young people the opportunity to present their reports and debate all the issues they have discussed, putting into practice the leadership skills, confidence and self-esteem they have acquired during the year.

Youth in Government’s formal programme ends at Easter to allow for school exam pressures. However, during the spring/ summer months the young people have the opportunity to travel to the Dail and Westminster to see democracy in action.